History offers a powerful lesson for any nation on the brink of surrendering key sovereign powers to outsiders. The East India Company (EIC), which once exercised dominion over a large part of the Indian subcontinent and Hong Kong, ultimately failed because of its lack of accountability, rampant corruption, mismanagement, and the prioritization of profit over the well-being of the people. The EIC’s legacy is clear: when foreign companies exercise sovereign-like authority, abuse and exploitation follow, undermining national interests and eroding public trust. Sovereignty cannot be outsourced without harmful consequences.
Haiti is at a crossroads. Thus far in 2025, there have been an estimated 3,137 murders, 346 reported kidnappings, and 628 victims of sexual violence. What began as a security issue continues to deteriorate into an urgent and expansive humanitarian crisis. As the country’s leadership moves to deal with this crisis, the involvement of private companies—specifically Private Military Contractors (PMCs)—is an unfortunate but necessary tool to address the immediate and increasing devastation from indiscriminate gang violence. The real question is not whether PMCs should be employed, but how should they be employed, and what oversight and accountability measures should govern them.
Haiti has two immediate options. One is authoritarian. The other is democratic. The authoritarian approach concentrates long-term, sweeping powers into the hands of foreign corporations, like the EIC, that will operate with little oversight or accountability. The democratic approach is to use PMCs as a resource that works with, for, and under the direction and control of Haitian leaders and is subject to robust national civilian oversight. The goal is not long term corporate profit, but to build, train, equip, and turn over to Haitian authorities, as rapidly as possible, a resilient, Haitian-led security force. This second option is far superior.
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